Page 59 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

Study Section 8: Pentateuch Part III:
The Covenant God: Exodus 32-40

8.1 Connect

The covenant ceremony is dramatic, forceful. The entire nation of Israel heard the law of God
and responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey (24:7).” Blood from
sacrifices was sprinkled on them to confirm the covenant and to communicate the seriousness
of their relationship with God (v. 8). Israel’s leaders climbed part way up the mountain for a
meal with God and returned (v. 11). Moses climbed the rest of the way to receive more
instructions from God. “The glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain (v.
17).” Moses has been gone for forty days and forty nights (v. 24). Israel is at a spiritual high point.

The Old Testament tabernacle is strange to modern readers. We are puzzled by details: “fifty loops along
the edge of the end curtain” (26:10), “the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and of
finely twisted linen” (28:6), and “an altar of acacia wood for burning incense…a cubit long and a cubit
wide, and two cubits high” (30:1, 2). We are puzzled because the design does not come from human
creativity but is God’s. “Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show
you (25:9; 26:30; 27:8; 1 Chron. 28:19).” The tabernacle was intended as an example or illustration of
true spiritual realities. For Israel it was another learning lesson.

8.2 Objectives

1. You will connect the nature of the false god chosen by Israel to their own spiritual
preferences.

2. You will see how Yahweh leads Moses to a fuller understanding of His nature.

3. You will evaluate the spiritual depth of Israel and the steps God takes in reference to us.

4. You will learn how the tabernacle was nothing more than a “shadow” of heavenly principles.

5. You will identify the major pieces of furniture and what they represent.

6. You will trace the movement of God’s presence from Mount Sinai to the tabernacle and into us.

8.3 The Covenant God

We are not ready for the next events. While Moses is receiving instructions about the
tabernacle (Chaps. 25-31), the people forget God’s glory. They forget the thunder, the
lightning, and the blood. Not knowing what happened to Moses, they ask Aaron to “Make us
gods who will be before us (32:1).” With Aaron’s help they make a golden calf. “These are
your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt (v. 4).” They build an altar and have a
festival, including food and drink and revelry (v. 6). Modern readers puzzle over this decision of Israel.
How could they make such a choice? How could they abandon their own solemn promises so soon?

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